Byzcynski Fuels IceGators Rally, Wins 7th Straight

Louisiana IceGators coach Kevin Kaminski likes to use the motto "Roll, Gators, roll!" to get his team motivated in practice and warm-ups. The IceGators rolled to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory Friday night over the Mississippi RiverKings. Kirk Byzcynski scored the final two IceGator goals to cap off Louisiana's comeback from a 3-0 deficit.

The IceGators and the RiverKings will meet again Saturday night in Southaven, Mississippi. Game time at the Landers Center is 7:05 P. M.

"It's a big win, but it came too close for comfort," Kaminski said. "We have to come out of the gate much better than that. The guys were resilient, though, and once they started skating and pressuring the puck, the got the job done. We just have to do it more consistently and for a full 60 minutes."

The RiverKings took their lead 17 seconds into the game. Matt Harrington scored off of a rebound to put Mississippi on the board. Kevin Willer added another score later in the frame. Kory Helowka made it a 3-0 game 47 seconds into the second period.

The IceGators mounted their comeback midway through the second period. Marc-André Carré and Shawn McNeil narrowed the deficit to 3-2 before the second intermission. Byzcynski tacked on his two goals--the second of which came on a powerplay--in the first six minutes of the third period.

"Kirk's got a great shot from the point," Kaminski said. The powerplay goal was an NHL goal. It was an absolute rocket. No one could have stopped that shot."

Kaminski praised his special teams units, as well. "Our special teams won us the game," he said. "They killed all four penalties and got us the game winner on the powerplay. I can't ask for anything more."

Despite the win, Kaminski know his team must respect the RiverKings heading into Saturday's rematch. "They are a very good team," he said. "You can't take them or anyone else lightly. We have to build off the momentum we picked up in this game."

"We're in first place, and we should be playing with positive and smart energy. We should have that greediness to win another one on the road. We're getting hungrier, and now we have to feed that hunger."